Born an Okie from Muskogee on October 17th 1923 Barney Kessel was a self taught guitarist whose main influence was the legendary and tragic jazz guitarist Charlie Christian. After playing in local bands Barney relocated to Los Angeles where he freelanced for such great band leaders as Charlie Barnet, Artie Shaw, Les Brown and Benny Goodman, not a bad apprenticeship!
AVID Entertainment presents a fully re-mastered Double CD on our AVID JAZZ imprint featuring our hero as leader of his own groups in the 1950’s. We include his first four LP’s in their entirety (minus one short track) “ Easy Like”, “Plays Standards”, “ To Swing Or Not To Swing” and “ Music To Listen To Barney Kessel By”. Supported by such fine award winning musicians as Shelly Manne, Bud Shank, Harry Eddison and Bill Perkins these four albums show us what a superb guitarist and arranger Barney Kessel really was!
Settle back and enjoy!
CD1
1-12: ‘Barney Kessel: Vol 1 - Easy Like’
1. Easy Like
2. Tenderly
3. Lullaby Of Birdland
4 What Is There To Say?
5. Bernardo
6. Vicky’s Dream
7. Salute To Charlie Christian
8. That’s All
9. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
10. Just Squeeze Me
11. April In Paris
12. North Of The Border
13-24: ‘Barney Kessel: Vol 2 - Barney Kessel Plays Standards’
13. Speak Low
14. Love Is Here To Stay
15. On A Slow Boat To China
16. How Long Has This Been Going On
17. My Old Flame
18. Jeepers Creepers
19. Barney’s Blues
20. Prelude To A Kiss
21 A Foggy Day
22. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
23. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was
24. 64 Bars On Wilshire
CD2
1-10: ‘Barney Kessel: Vol 3 - To Swing Or Not To Swing’
1. Begin The Blues
2. Louisiana
3. Happy Feeling
4. Embraceable You
5. Wail Street
6. Indiana
7. Moten Swing
8. Midnight Sun
9 Contemporary Blues
10. Don’t Blame Me
11-22: ‘Barney Kessel: Vol 4 - Music To Listen To Barney Kessel By’
11. Cheerful Little Earful
12. Makin’ Whoopee
13. My Reverie
14. Blues For A Playboy
15. Love Is For The Very Young
16. Carioca
17 Mountain Greenery
18. Indian Summer
19. Gone With The Wind
20 Laura
21 I Love You
22 Fascinating Rhythm
